At BuroHappold, we believe that the best solutions to the most complex challenges are underpinned by robust understanding and insight. That’s why we ask the big questions, challenge thinking and collaborate with clients, partners and citizens to deliver a truly integrated understanding of today’s urban challenges.

From our very first project we have used our intricate knowledge of the industry to push the boundaries and achieve more. It is this commitment that sets us apart, that adds value, that makes us award winning. We apply the same level of complex thought and specialist expertise to every project we work on.

Described by our clients as ‘passionate’, ‘innovative’, ‘collaborative’, BuroHappold Engineering is an independent, international engineering firm built up over the last 40 years, delivering creative, value led building and city solutions for an ever changing world.

BuroHappold is a people practice. The diversity of our staff is what makes us unique. Their skills and expertise, along with their creative, enthusiastic personalities, enquiring minds and creative flair are what maintains our innovative edge.

The enduring principles set out by our founding partner Sir Edmund ‘Ted’ Happold were care, value and elegance. We still adhere to this ethos today, offering a full range of engineering services and expertise to meet your project needs and create truly inspirational world class buildings and environments around the world.

In the construction world we design and make our built environment – the very fabric of our civilisation. There is room for an immensely diverse range of talents and what we tackle demands people with many different specialist skills; Thinkers, doers, analysts, generalists....equipped to deal with all aspects of the built environment.

Cutty Sark

1 / Introduction

The Cutty Sark is the last surviving example of a 19th century tea clipper, a historic legacy that gives it unique status as the only Grade I listed ship in England. In 2004 a comprehensive programme of conservation work began to restore this aging beauty to her former glory, and secure an ongoing income that would preserve her for the enjoyment of visitors for many years to come.

But tragedy struck not long into the work when fire swept through the ship in May 2007, causing extensive damage to the already delicate wooden structure. Thankfully, our team had already begun the process of dismantling the ship, so a significant amount of the original timber survived. All the planks were sensitively repaired by hand, using the traditional method of removing areas of decay and painstakingly piecing in new timber. Those that were in a very poor state were carefully reconstructed and then reinforced with glass fibre to preserve them.

Key facts

Only surviving 19th century tea clipper in the world

Weighing 963 tonnes the tea clipper has been lifted into the air and suspended three metres above the dry dock floor

New visitor viewing gallery, event space and museum created beneath the ship

2 / Challenge

With the sensitive conservation work complete, transformation of the site into a state-of-the-art visitor complex could begin. For the BuroHappold team, this involved the tricky task of elevating this massive ship 3m in the air so she floated above her dry dock, which would in turn contain the new viewing gallery and museum.

3 / Solution

At 963 tonnes, the process of raising this fragile old lady required significant technical skill. A carefully phased operation saw the ship lifted 100mm at a time on climbing hydraulic jacks as she was transferred from her previous support system on to the new permanent steelwork.

With the ship safely in place the space of the dry dock below was transformed, the beautiful design allowing this great Victorian matriarch to once again sail amongst us today.

At street level the glass roof swells up through the pavement and around the ship like a wave, while her hull breaks through into the museum below, the geometric lines of glass radiating out from it like ripples through water, affording visitors beneath a unique and breath-taking view.

4 / Value

Our work throughout this project was underpinned by the marriage of sensitive conservation and pioneering design, and today the Cutty Sark cuts a dramatic silhouette on the bank of the River Thames, an iconic reminder of Britain’s remarkable maritime past.